confusion

[mjb_akagus]

I need opinions!!! lol

Well, my instructor is always making me use my inside leg to get Gus to engage his hind and get him to track his fores. When I mean always, I mean always, like every stride and whatnot. I don't feel this is right because I notice it's causing some confusion for making an upward transition to the trot. He's also being slow to the aids. It takes a long time to get him to trot. UGH!

I NEED HELP!!!

I'm going to talk to my instructor about this but want your guys' opinions too. :)

Don't be too hard on me if I'm doing this all wrong :o

Sincerely,
Lisha

[KateWooten]

Yes, I don't understand it. I work with the horse by requesting ... putting a small amount of pressure on - like a leg aid or whatever ... then as soon as he does what I ask - I release. He learns from the release. I have no idea how he can understand what you're asking for if you have to keep the request on and on and on ... how does he know when he's got it right ? A lot of dressage instructors do seem to work that way though. I don't get it either.

[katefarmer]

I agree with the other Kate (as usual! :cool: ) You keep the horse soft and listening with pressure and release. When riding a lateral, for example, you might push the hind leg over for each stride that you want in that position. Push as the hind leg you want to reach over comes up from the ground, and you get a big stride. All in the timing. Then when you want to go straight again, stop pushing the leg over, and go straight.

As you have noticed, putting the leg on every stride regardless just desensitizes the horse to the leg - meaning you then need a stronger signal when you actually want a change.

I would ask your instructor to clarify what they mean. It could be a misunderstanding, and they actually mean just use the leg to ask for something specific, then stop. If they really do mean just thump his side all the time to "keep him going forwards" - I'd try another instructor! ;)

[Jamey]

My instructor works on the theory that if you are in one pace (say a trot) then the only time you should really be using your leg is when you are changing direction or pace. The horse should be self-propelled and should not rely on you constantly nagging at him with your legs to keep him going. Cossack is inclined to be a bit lazy but I've done lots of work to get him forward of my leg (ie. lots of transitions where you ask once and if nothing happens back it up with the stick, then lots of praise when they go forward). The less you use your leg the less you need to use it if that makes sense.

Edit to say: try using shoulder-in on a circle and leg yielding parallel to the track to get him to engage behind - it's helped us a lot!!

[mjb_akagus]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I agree with you all. I'm going to start using my leg less often, only when I feel he's lagging behind and needs a reminder to keep up his pace.

You see, it just dawned on me one day and I realized this wasn't going to work if I was going to get Gus really responsive and quick to go forward. I will talk to my instructor about this.

Another thing too is that she may be making me use my leg all the time for now just to get him going in the correct pace at the trot. To get him thinking forward. (she says to always bump him. when you do so, he might rush a little. she says just let him do it. all you do is do what you always do, post normal and whatever, don't get him to slow down...he'll soon find his "sweet spot" and stay there for his pace...a tempo that's comfortable for him yet still keeping that impulsion) Then once he goes right into a forward trot on his own without all the nagging we don't need to use the leg, or only at least when he lags behind. This might just be a part of her training to get them going forward. Once they have the idea to go forward than we'd start working on quicker transitions and stuff.

Like I said, I'll discuss this with her.

Thanks again everyone!

Sincerely,
Lisha

P.S.- This probably made NO sense what so ever LOL :rolleyes: